London Heritage Farm – A Window into the Past

Photo Courtesy of visitrichmondbc.com

One of the earliest farms in Richmond, London Farm was established in 1888 by brothers William and Charles London. The brothers purchased 200 acres of land along the south arm of the Fraser River, the area now known as London’s Landing.

Ten years later, the first farmhouse was built on the site, and this became home to Charles and Henrietta London along with their growing family. By 1906, they had grown to be a family of ten, which required adding a new section to the front of the house. In addition to the farmhouse, the site was developed to include storage sheds, a water tower, boarding for farm workers, barns and more. In 1920, daughter, Lucy London and her husband Herbert Howse purchased the farm, and the family continued to maintain strong ties to the property for decades.

In 1978 the property was purchased by the City of Richmond who restored it in partnership with the London Heritage Farm Society to create a municipal heritage site with exhibits, events and tours for the community to enjoy. The four-acre site includes a heritage garden, a barn where visitors can explore interactive displays and the farmhouse that has been fully restored and staged to portray what life was like in the early years of the farm.

If you haven’t been visited the London Heritage Farm, I encourage you to check it out. Spend the afternoon strolling the grounds and soak up a little piece of history right in our own backyard.